michele told me to be brief because she wants to hear the music. thank you, secretary salazar for that generous introduction and for your dedication to protecting our national resources. i want to thank the national parks service team for putting on this beautiful production. let's give a hand it to neil patrick harris and this evening 's performers. they performed a fantastic show. and i want to thank all of you for joining us for this great tradition. we have been lighting the national christmas tree for 90 years now. in times of war, peace, a triumph, tragedy. we have always come together to rejoice in the christmas spirit. our tree has been having a hard time the last few years. a longstanding trade was lost to the storm. it was replaced, but it did not take hold. it just goes to show. nobody's drugs are safe here in washington. [laughter] but i feel good about this one. it was planted before hurricane sandy and made it through the storm in one piece. i know our neighbors to the north had a more ruthless and destructive sandy. it was especially